Stress Distribution Around the Equipment Hatch Opening of a Prestressed Concrete Containment for a PWR Power Station

Results are reported of a finite element stress analysis for the linear elastic deformation around the equipment hatch opening in prestressed concrete containment. The dimensions and form of the containment are taken to be representative of current design practice for the primary containment of a PWR power station; however the study is generic. Of particular interest is the response of the containment to beyond design-basis load levels. To this end results are included which involve over-load pressurization together with an approximate treatment of the propagation and stability of cracks in the concrete around the equipment hatch opening.